Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, yesterday received the President of Mozambique, Armando Emilio Guebuza, at his rest house Al Marmoum area.

Guebuza is leading a high-level government delegation on a visit to the UAE.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid and President Guebuza held discussions on political and economic matters of mutual interest. They discussed the process of development in Africa, in general, and in Mozambique, in particular.

The discussions took in cooperation and friendship between the UAE and Mozambique and ways to promote them based on a common desire for mutual benefit from the potentials of both countries.

In remarks at the meeting, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid emphasised that he encourages the exchange of expertise between the two countries, as well as the exchange of visits by teams specialised in different spheres, in order to lay strong foundations for a solid future partnership that will achieve the common interests of the two countries and their peoples.

For his part, the President of Mozambique expressed his government's desire for tapping the expertise of the UAE, in general, and of Dubai in particular. He commended the continuous success of Dubai in different spheres such as infrastructure, financial, real estates, ports and other economic and tourism sectors. – Emirates News Agency, WAM

The President of Mozambique on Sunday night confirmed the country support to the UAE’s bid to host Expo 2020.

“We are committed to support the UAE in their innovative attempt to host Expo 2020 which will bring promising returns in developing several countries in the region and worldwide and Mozambique is one of these,” said President Armando Emilio Guebuza, who was speaking at the Mozambique Business Conference.

The forum was attended by delegations of ministers, senior government officials and business leaders from both countries.

The president added that relation between the UAE and Mozambique goes beyond businesses to more than friendship ties.

However, he called upon the UAE to invest in Mozambique marking the most potential sectors mainly in the agriculture businesses which serve the emirates programme of food security.

“Already there are many companies in Mozambique owned by UAE nationals while most of the Emirates’ investments are focused on transport and telecommunication.”

He highlighted how Emaar is already exploring for business opportunities in Mozambique.

Laurenco Sambo, Director-General of Investment Promotion Centre in Mozambique, remarked that the UAE is the largest countries in terms of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Mozambique at US$250 million in 2012.

The UAE’s FDI into Mozambique in 2011 was only US$25 million in 2011.

Guebuza said the UAE could play a catalytic role in Mozambique economic growth.

“While our country is rich with oil and gas, we are looking forward to investments across the entire value chain covering agriculture, infrastructure development, tourism, health care, retail, banking and insurance,” he said.

He pointed out how the latest reformation that the Mozambique government achieved has helped in created a fertile ground to attract further investments to the country.

“Recent reformations that tackled the labour law, commercial law, companies law in addition to other legal infrastructure has resulted in developing an ideal investment environment able to attract more businesses to Mozambique,” he said. With real GDP growth projected to grow at over 7.6 per cent this year and by 8.1 per cent in 2014, Mozambique is one of the fastest-growing economies in Africa. The country has significant reserves of natural gas and mineral resources including coal, gold, titanium and precious stones. The country is also investing heavily in boosting its power infrastructure through natural gas, coal, hydro and solar energy plants. – Gulf News

Mozambique offers an attractive and friendly environment for investors in many sectors, according to top government officials of the South-east African country.

“Mozambique is the pearl of the Indian Ocean and provides endless investment opportunities,” Mozambican President Armando Emilio Guebuza told the participants of the Mozambique-UAE Business Forum in Dubai. “We want to use this forum as a launching pad to further improve economic and business relations between the two countries.”

Guebuza said Mozambique treats the UAE as the most favourite trade partner in the Middle East and the forum will further improve business relations. At present, the UAE is the largest foreign direct investor in Mozambique with investments of over US$250 million in 2012, according to the Investment Promotion Centre of Mozambique, or CPI.

The forum was attended by top government officials and prominent businessmen from both countries.

“We want you to come and invest and we will welcome you with open arms,” the president told UAE businesses. “We believe banks, insurance houses, financial companies could attract more businesses from here, if they open offices in our country,” he added.

The country provides significant investment opportunities in sectors such as construction, agriculture, transport, energy and renewable energy, among others.

Guebuza also specifically mentioned about a potential area for investment in building the Mozambique’s irrigation infrastructure and developing the country’s 2,700km coastline.

The forum was also addressed by Emaar Properties chairman Mohamed Alabbar, in which he called Mozambique as a gas capital of Africa. He appreciated the business-friendly policies of the government and indicated the company’s investment interest in Mozambique.

“The UAE and Dubai are a real platform for relationship between Mozambique and the Arab world,” he said.

Lourenco Sambo, director-general of CPI-Mozambique, said that the objective of this forum is to explore investment opportunities between the two countries.

“We offer an attractive and friendly business environment for investors, as well as access to so many other markets in the region and outside [of it].”

Sambo said the country is focused on providing fiscal and customs incentives for foreign investors, and to promote linkages between national and international companies.

He added that Mozambique is not only an open door to a population of over 23 million, but also to over 250 million consumers in the wider Southern African Development Community. Sambo said that there is tremendous potential for investments in all aspects of the gas sector.

He also highlighted investment opportunities in power generation projects including hydro sources, coal, natural gas and solar plants.

Sambo said the country offers a series of tax credits including about 10 per cent for investments in areas other than Maputo City, while investors can also benefit from up to a five per cent reduction in taxable income if they offer professional training to Mozambicans. – Khaleej Times

Andorra: Ambassador of the UAE to Spain, and the Non-resident Ambassador to Andorra, Dr. Hessa Al Otaiba, met with Andorra Prime Minister, Antoni Marti Petit, the representatives of the Co-Princes of Andorra and the French President, Josep Maria Mauri and Sylvie Hubac as well as ministers and senior officials.

At the meeting, the ambassador conveyed greetings from President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and the Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and their best wishes of progress and prosperity for Andorra and its people.

Al Otaiba's visit was upon an invitation from the government of the Principality of Andorra.

At another meeting with Andorra Minister of Foreign Affairs, Gilbert Saboya Sunye, matters of mutual interest and ways to enhance relations through the exchange of visits were discussed. She conveyed to Sunye greetings from H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Foreign Minister.

The Ambassador conveyed greetings from the Speaker of the UAE's Federal National Council, Mohammed Al Mur, to the Speaker of the Parliament of Andorra, Vicenc Mateu Zamora.

Zamora expressed his country's desire for initiating cooperation and friendship with the UAE's legislative body. He also expressed admiration over the UAE's fast-paced boom.